A contemporary whose editor does
not believe our Lord now present,
says it believes that when Jesus
comes he will spend some time washing
his bride before the marriage.
Truly, this is a peculiar thought,
strangely out of harmony with
earthly usages and customs.
We
suggest the thought that the Bible
never uses an illustration which involves
an absurdity.
Let us glance
at the Scriptural way of stating the
matter.

Jesus espoused to himself a virgin
clad in filthy garments of her own
unrighteousness; He left her robes
of righteousness, of his own purchase,
telling her that she must put
on these robes (by faith) if she would
be His.
He did not put them on
her.
The robes he gave her were
sages to her by the Apostles that
she should abstain from all defiling
things while she waited for him;
that she should put away her former
filthy habits and live henceforth according
to the Spirit and not after
the flesh, and keep herself "unspotted
from the world."
He left his
word as a purifier and cleanser if
ever she got a soil upon her robes,
that so he might though absent
himself thus arrange for her readiness,
and "sanctify and cleanse her
with the washing of water by the
word, that he might present her to
himself a glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing."
And the Apostle exhorts
us to make use of these agencies and be sanctifiedholythrough thetruth.

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing ye
look for such things, be diligent that [R163 : page 8] ye may be found of him in peace without
spot and blameless." (2 Pet. 3:14.)
Mark that he says not, that he
shall wash you when he comes,
but you shall be found of him so
cleansed.
Let us, dearly beloved,
give diligence to this subject and
see that our robe is spotless, remembering
always that "without holiness
(purityseparation) no man
shall see the Lord."
Those whose
robes need washing must do it forthemselves, either now or during the
time of trouble. (Rev. 7:14.)